Although not a brewery or brewpub, a beer bar is also a
quintessential - nay essential - part of any beer fan's environs.
A good beer bar has some different brews, and offers decent
food at a fair price.
A great beer bar has some more unusual brews, and very good
food; in some cases near-gourmet quality.
A gratifying beer bar has rare and unusual beers, and food
that in some cases is off the hook.
I would estimate the Craft Ale House in Royersford Limerick PA falls
into the 3rd category - or higher. As with this apparently water-themed beer
trip, this is where Mr. Royer "forded" (crossed) the river.
The bar - as the story goes - was originally an unassuming
deli, which a husband-wife team bought and rehabbed and thus the Craft Ale
House was born.
They have at least 15 taps which change periodically, they have very
good food, and they have beer.
First the food. There were four of us at the restaurant;
three chose the grass-fed hanger steak and I chose the smoked boar. I am not
sure what was better. The boar was tender, rich and smoky, served with Brussel
sprouts.
The hanger steak was fork-tender, with bacon-accented collard greens and fried mashed plantains. There is a tempting dessert menu, but there's no better aperitif than a good barleywine.
The hanger steak was fork-tender, with bacon-accented collard greens and fried mashed plantains. There is a tempting dessert menu, but there's no better aperitif than a good barleywine.
Now the beer. A breathtaking array of beers in two coolers
(with allegedly "more in the back", and there were) from A to Z. A good example is
the fact there was van Eecke's Hommeil beer, a personal favorite.
The list of beer sampled - as I was not driving - is just a hint at the selection.
The list of beer sampled - as I was not driving - is just a hint at the selection.
Ithaca - Flower Power IPA (draft) [#3,373]
Lefevre - Blanche de Bruxelles (bottle) [#3,374]
DuClaw - Devil's Milk barleywine (bottle) [#3,375]
Left Hand - Milk Stout (nitro) [#3,376]
De Struise - Tsjeeses Reserva '11 (draft) [#3,377]
De Struise - Tsjeeses Reserva '11 (bottle) [#3,378]
Had a nice chat with co-owner Gary, and me tipped us off as
to another potential beer importer to speak with, after my own abortive attempt
to import beers from Belgium.
So, remember, if you're within 50 miles of Royersford - and
Craft Ale House is open - you really owe it to yourself to stop in.
Glad you liked it, but it is located in Limerick, not Royersford.
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